Improvement in priming metallic cartridges



G. E. SNEIDER. PRIMING METALLIC GARTRIDGES.

Patented NovJZZ, 1864 @641. vac/W L. v Ii min: cu, mom-Luna. mm. a. I

ITED STATES PATENT OEEroE.

*(THARLES E. SNEIDER, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGN OR TO HIMSELF AND THOMAS POULTNEY, ()F SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN PRIMING METALLIC CARTRIDGES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 45$), dated November 22, 1864.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES E. SNEIDER, of the city and county of Baltimore, and State of Maryland, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Cartridges; and I do hereby declare the followingto be a full and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a perspectiveview of a cartridge illustrating my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same at w m, Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a transverse section thereof at yy, Fig. 2. Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

The subject of my present invention is a cartridge consisting of a case of any suitable material, a pinfirmly secured in one wall of the said case and extending nearly to the opposite wall, which opposite wall is perforated to permit the application of a percussion-cap to the end of the rod within the case, and an 'outer cap closing the aperture in the case, to

made of sheet brass or copper, closed at its rear end, a, and with a longitudinal lapped unclosed joint, a, at one side, to permit the expansion of the case in order to check the escape of gas when the charge is fi red. B is the pin, screwed, soldered, or otherwise fixed. in the wall of the case, and projecting trans versely within the latter, nearly or quite to the opposite side thereof, at which part is made an aperture, a, of the required size to permit a percussion-cap, 0, to be passed through from the outside and placed upon the end of the pin B. D is an external cap adapted to fit over the rear end of the case A. The said cap is formed with a close base, (I, and an unclosed longitudinal lap-joint, d, to permit its expansion, as already described.

The length of the cap Dis sufficient to adapt it to cover the rear of the case A to a slight distance beyond the pin B and aperture a, and it is formed at its forward end with a longitudinal and transverse slot, d, which, fitting over the external projecting end of the pin B, adapts the said cap to be looked upon the cartridge by slipping it over theend of the latter and turning. When in this position the said cap closes the aperture c confines the percussion-cap 0, provides a bearing for the head of the latter, and completes an effective gas-check.

ing guns in which the entire breech-chamber is forward of the place of inserting the cartridge, the pin must be at or very near the rear end of the latter.

For guns in which the breech opens at or near the mid-length of the chamber, the pin is located at a suitable distance forward,'as in the present illustration.

In firing, the hammer strikes the externallyprojecting end of the pin B, and the case A yields inwardly to a sufficient extent to explode the percussion-cap (.l, the head of which rests against the cap D, which has a solid hearing within the breechchamber of the gun.

After firing, the cap D is removed,when' the exploded cap 0 may be taken out through the aperture 0. and the cartridge is ready for recharging.

A great advantage of the invention is that it requires only common ammunition, i.- a,

powder, shot, or ball, and percussion-caps,

which are everywhere obtainable. if at any time the percussion-cap should become detached, or in the event of a cap failing to explode, a newcap can be applied at any time I to close theapertnre a and check the escape ofgas. 7

O. EDW. SNEIDER. Witnesses OCTAVIUS KNIGHT,

E. N. EAGLE. 

